Auckland Councillor says homelessness is not anti-social behaviour

“Homelessness is one of our most pressing societal issues,” says Auckland Councillor Fa’anānā Efeso Collins. “Recently homelessness has been linked to anti-social behaviour… these are two separate issues that should not automatically be lumped in together… Despite public perception, council research undertaken in 2017 to inform the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw found that people engaging in anti-social behaviour are unlikely to be experiencing long-term homelessness.”